As I get to know Bud, he strikes me as a sweet dog who was once treated well, then badly. It seems he was abandoned by his former owner and left to live outside in an open pen with another dog, a Pug who perished of heat stroke.

Worried neighbors called Friends Of Homeless Animals, who bought Bud from his callous owner for $150. It cost more than $900 in veterinary fees to get Bud healthy again and also cure his heartworm.

At first Bud seemed something of a wild dog. He marked almost everything he saw or passed, including all of the dogs food bowls, he chew compulsively and without an  understanding of what was allowed,  was terrified and defiant of the crate, outside, he lunged at the sheep or donkeys, he was not housebroken, guarded his food intensely, moved our shoes around every day,  and was not trained in any recognizable way.

Bud was not housebroken, he peed in the kitchen and on the wood flowers, he defecated in the kitchen and the bathroom, although always furtively, we never saw him do it.

He was a challenge. Two months later, I feel calming training and our patient and positive training approach is showing  has brought Bud a  very long way. He is not permitted on chairs and sofas, but as Boston Terrier owners know, this is a problematic command – these dogs ignore it.

His recall is excellent, he sits (mostly) on command,  he is almost entirely housebroken, he has stopped marking his territory, he sits and waits calmly for his food, except for one of my boots he leaves our clothes and shoes alone.

His intensity and dominance has eased, he trusts us to feed and shelter him, he has come to terms with Red, who he loves, and Fate, who he plays with continuously. There is a point with most dogs, I think, when they know they will get fed and cared for and be given attention.

Bud is getting there. I love calming training, it is one of my passions, and it is tailored made for Bud, who needs to understand what is being asked of him, and who also needs to calm down enough to be trained easily and well.

His natural sweetness is emerging as a primary trait, it was obscured under his frantic anxiety and obvious fear. Bud is going well in his therapy training, he is calm and affectionate with the Mansion residents. He has been astounding in his support and concern for Red during his illness.

And he is pretty cute and knows it. I thought this photo of Bud dozing in a living room chair captures his emerging and generous and loving spirit.

Audio: The importance of calming training